Queens College Choral Society and Orchestra to Present Mendelssohn’s Elijah on May 17th

FLUSHING, NY, May 5, 2014—Under the baton of Music Director James John, the Queens College Choral Society, Choir, Women’s Choir and Orchestra will join forces to perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah on Saturday, May 17, at 7:30 pm in Colden Auditorium, in a concert that will include nearly 300 musicians. Elijah is among the most beloved masterworks of all time. Inspired by the dramatic tradition of Handel and Bach, it features some of Mendelssohn’s most famous choruses and is a vivid musical portrayal of the life of this Old Testament prophet and miracle worker.

Baritone Darren Stokes, guest artist, will be featured in the title role. Mr. Stokes has performed with prominent orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States, including the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati May Festival, Boston Lyric Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Washington National Opera, the Ravinia Festival, Glimmerglass Opera and San Francisco Opera. Young professionals who are currently in the vocal performance program at the Aaron Copland School of Music will perform eight additional solo roles.

A faculty member of the Aaron Copland School of Music for eleven years, James John conducts the QC Choir, Vocal Ensemble and Choral Society, teaches choral conducting, and serves as advisor to the graduate program in vocal performance. Dr. John is also Artistic Director of the Manhattan-based vocal ensemble Cerddorion, a chamber choir dedicated to adventurous programs that span the breadth of the choral repertory. He has given presentations at both divisional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, and is in demand as a guest conductor throughout the United States.

Founded in 1941, the Queens College Choral Society (QCCS) is “a singing organization of and for the public, students and staff of Queens College.” The Society typically performs two concerts per year with orchestra—in December and May—devoted to the great masterpieces of choral literature such as Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Bach’s Magnificat, and Handel’s Messiah. The QCCS has also performed multiple premieres of new works, including the recent premiere of 1001 Voices: A Symphony for Queens, commissioned by the Queens Symphony Orchestra. The group is open to singers of all backgrounds and skill levels, from high school students to adult community members.